WOTS: What was your first-year dorm experience like?
Living in a dorm your first year is a one of a kind experience, with each dorm having its own vibe and personality. Some students thrived in their dorm, while others barely knew their next door neighbor and experienced a more studious atmosphere.
With all the different kinds of dorms available, Breaking News Editor Rebecca Ayers went around campus and asked UNC students what their first-year dorm experience was like and if things ever got weird.
Lauren Sandidge
Sophomore pre-pharmacy major
First-year dorm, Hinton James
“My favorite part was probably every Wednesday they had a social gathering for the whole dorm, so they would have food or different activities for all the residents that participated, and this was every week. Sometimes they had cookie decorating or bring your own mug, and they’d do different things with that.”
Jasper Mark
Sophomore exercise and sports science major
First-year dorm, Granville Towers
“I think it’s nice, I think it’s really convenient for classes. For my 8 a.m., I woke up at like 7:50 every morning, and made it there on time. I think Granville gets a bad rep for being really fratty, and there’s a lot of Greek life there, but I think that everyone there is pretty down to earth and pretty good people.”
Nikki Perry
Sophomore math major
First-year dorm, Hinton James
“My RA told that me that one time someone tried to scale down the side of the building, he got caught, but not sure why that happened. He had some climbing equipment and he just wanted to repel down the building for some reason, he was weird I think.”
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Senior chemistry and exercise and sports science major
First-year dorm, Granville Towers
“There were a lot of times people would just like randomly come into your room and sleep on your floor without you knowing. Like people always come back to their rooms, sophomores would come back to their old rooms without thinking about it, and just crash on your floor. I mean that happened a couple of times so that was kind of weird.”
Max Conley
Junior history major
First-year dorm, Ehringhaus
“I think I really liked living there, I really loved suite style. I also lived in a suite sophomore year. It was just really great to have lots of people to interact with in a such a small space, I think. And I happen to like most of the people there, so that can play into that also, and then also having communal lobbies so close. So I got to know people on the rest of my hall really well, it was also just a really great experience.”
Samed Delic
Sophomore biochemistry and psychology major
First-year dorm, Cobb
“I guess the best thing about Cobb is it’s relatively large to give you a broad range of people, and also I lived on a floor with international students, so I got to meet people from different countries and have that experience. Overall I think the best thing is the fact that it’s large enough to have that diversity but small enough to meet your director, and RAs can plan activities with everyone.”
Abby Williams
Sophomore computer science major
First-year dorm, Horton
“So I had a lot of friends who lived in Craige, Ehringhaus, Hojo and overall Horton was really nice rooms because the rooms felt bigger, the bathroom wasn’t clean but we kind of managed that on our own. And I felt the bathroom was bigger. But overall it wasn’t as social as Hojo, Ehringhaus because they have a lot more open area. Horton was generally social but people were just kind of sometimes, just kept to themselves.”
Megan Mathes
Senior exercise and sports science major
First-year dorm, Hinton James
“My suitemates were some of my best friends — and still are — and I lived with two sophomore year and still live with one of them now. So that was nice, and our RA did a really good job at integrating our entire wing even though we were different suites at the meetings and stuff so it was really easy to get to know people.”
